Barbara Heins | Nov 4, 2011 | 0 Comments

Information supplied by Greenwich Police and does not indicate guilt or conviction.

A New Milford man has been arrested in connection with two incidents involving the attempted enticementof two teenage girls into a van. In one incident, an 18-year-old was groped, Greenwich Police said.

James B. Magri, 27, of 3 Eden Ln., New Milford, surrendered Thursdayto Greenwich Police who obtained an arrest warrant charging hime with 4th-degree sexual assault and riskof injury to a minor, both felonies.

Magri is accused of approaching a lone 18-year-old female walking on Mallard Drive while he was operating awhite van, on Oct. 31. Magri was able to convince that female to get in his van, police said. Magri attemptedto convince the female to engage in a consensual sex act but after being rebuffed, inappropriately touchedthe victim, according to police.

"The victim thought she recognized him as someone she knew and got into the van.But she didn't," said police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray."As she got out of the van, he grabbed her breast. He groped over her clothing ... it was non-consensual."

The second incident happened on Nov. 2, a lone 14-year-old female walking on Mallard Drive wasapproached by a man operating a white van.

Magri attempted to convince the girl to get in the van but "she told him forcefully, 'No,'" Gray said.

The suspect left the area as the girl began to use her cell phone to call her mother for help, Gray said.

According to Gray, "He left but he returned. She saw him two times."

That girl was able to provide police with a better description of the white van belonging to acontracting company that was hired to work in the area, Gray said.

Gray said that the driver "never made any threats to the victims. Nobody was physically injured."

Both incidents occurred after 2 p.m., after school dismissals, Gray said.

Gray said, "Five percent of sexual assaults are committed by a stranger.

You have to be more vigilant to the ones who are closer to the family, who have the opportunity to take advantage.

But everyone should remain vigilant at all times. You don't walk alone, especially in the dark or in a unfamiliar place."

Magri was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Nov. 10 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

UPDATE: IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE IS REPORTING ON THIS, EXCEPT THE GREENWICH TIME

Greenwich police charged a New Milford man with fourth-degree sexual assault Thursday after he allegedlytouched a teenage girl inappropriatelyafter picking her up in a van in town earlier in the week. James B. Magri, 27, of 3 Eden Lane, was alsocharged with risk of injury to a minor.

Magri turned himself in to Greenwich police Thursday after he learned the department held awarrant for his arrest.

While driving a white van in Greenwich on Halloween, Magri pulled up to an 18-year-old girlwalking on Mallard Drive, police said.Magri convinced the girl to get into his van and then attempted to get her to engage in aconsensual sex act, police said.

After the girl turned down his advance, Magri touched her inappropriately, police said.

In a second alleged incident later in the week, Magri, again driving a white van, approacheda 14-year-old girl also walking on Mallard Drive, police said.

Magri attempted to persuade the girl to get in the van, but she refused, police said.